Why Are The Tornado Sirens Going Off And What Should I Do? - The Sun

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TORNADO sirens are used across the United States to warn the general population of approaching danger.

Here we explain what they mean and what you should do if you hear them going off.

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Why are the tornado sirens going off?

Tornado sirens are usually sounded when something “life threatening” is happening, according to the National Weather Service.

However, the specific guidelines on why the sirens have been activated varies by jurisdiction.

Government bodies advise that citizens check with their local community to clarify which operation system is in place.

When do tornado sirens go off?

Despite varying from state to state, the most common tones produced by tornado sirens in the United States are “alert” (steady) and “attack” (wail).

On average, the Quad City area, that encompasses Iowa and Illinois, experiences these tones up to five times a year.

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As defined in FEMA’s National Warning System Operations Manual, republished in 2001, the sirens don’t always signal weather threats and can mean different things.

Attack warning

Lasting three to five minutes, a wavering siren tone ,or a series of short blasts on horns, is sounded by local authorities.

The “attack warning” signal means an actual attack or accidental missile launch was detected, and people should take protective action immediately.

The signal will be repeated as often as deemed necessary by local government authorities to provoke action from civilians.

Although the signal will usually never be used in any other circumstance, it can sometimes be utilised for the most severe tornado warnings.

Attention or alert warning

Also lasting three to five minutes, a steady signal from sirens, horns, or other devices may be authorized by local authorities to alert the public about the most severe weather warnings.

These usually include flash floods, tornadoes and tsunamis.

During such an event, citizens are asked to follow “essential emergency information”.

Third distinctive signal

A third distinctive signal may be used for other purposes, such as a local fire signal, according to the guidelines.

However, the fire signal will again vary from place to place.

What should I do if the tornado sirens go off?

When the sirens are heard, citizens are advised to go inside and tune in to local media to get more information, The National Weather Service says.

However, the sirens are only designed to be heard outside and the governmental body adds that homeowners and businesses in vulnerable areas should all install NOAA Weather Radio All-Hazards. 

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The guidance reads: “These can wake you up when a warning is issued for your area so you can take appropriate action.”

The full National Weather Service FAQ is available online.